Al-Khelaifi’s Candid Admission: A Champions League Semifinal Between Real Madrid and PSG?

aris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently shared his thoughts in an interview with ‘WELT am Sonntag’ and ‘BILD’, discussing the club’s future and strategic direction. He acknowledged past missteps in building a star-studded squad and revealed Qatar’s plans to gradually shift its investments away from France to more welcoming destinations.

One of the most striking revelations from the interview was Al-Khelaifi’s preference regarding a potential Champions League final. Rather than facing Real Madrid, a club that has repeatedly eliminated PSG in recent years, he stated that he would much rather see a final between PSG and Bayern Munich, set to take place on May 31 in Munich.

Avoiding Real Madrid at All Costs

When asked whether he would prefer a Djokovic-Zverev Grand Slam final or a PSG-Real Madrid Champions League final, Al-Khelaifi’s response was clear: “Obviously, I prefer football.” However, he quickly clarified his stance, emphasizing that his ideal final would be PSG against Bayern Munich.

His reluctance to face Real Madrid is understandable, given PSG’s history of painful eliminations at the hands of the Spanish giants. Even Bayern Munich, which defeated PSG in a Champions League final, appears to be a more favorable opponent in Al-Khelaifi’s eyes.

Acknowledging Mistakes in the ‘Superstar Project’

Al-Khelaifi also admitted that the club’s strategy of assembling a squad filled with superstars, including Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé, was flawed. “I openly admit that our five-year plan was a mistake. But we learn from our errors. In the last five years, we’ve reached three semifinals and one final, so we’ve always pushed to our limits,” he explained.

While winning the Champions League remains a major aspiration, Al-Khelaifi stressed that PSG’s focus is on competing fiercely in every match, playing attacking football, and enjoying the game. “We have the players to win the Champions League this year, next year, or even in eight years. We have the foundation to build a great team for the future,” he concluded.

Despite having some of the world’s biggest stars in recent years, PSG was still unable to break past Real Madrid in key Champions League matchups. With a new direction and lessons learned, the club now aims to establish itself as a dominant force in European football.